Sorry for the inconvenience — currently parts of press release only available in German
Ayurveda against Corona2 Citizens’ initiative for the state recognition of Ayurveda founded
from 08.07.2020
Press release
Against the background of the unfortunately still current corona crisis, we have founded the citizens’ initiative for the recognition of Ayurveda. In the Federal Republic of Germany, care is a state goal. From this derives the social duty to offer all possibilities in the fight against infectious diseases. Ayurveda panchakarma treatments strengthen the immune system by detoxifying and purifying the body and many other positive effects. In case of unnoticed corona exposure, a strong immune system is the best preventive protection against SARS-CoV 2.
In the EU, Ayurveda has long been recognized as a traditional medical system in the sense of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The 2nd wave is definitely coming. This is at any rate the overwhelming assessment of health experts. We are still a long way from the hoped-for relaxation, even if politicians are hoping for something else.
With the holistic approach of medical Ayurveda, the individual person is the focus of attention. Ayurveda/Panchakarma is the oldest, most comprehensive health system of mankind (about 5000 years old) with millions of healing successes. Many successes have been trivialized as not reproducible, as individual cases. Evidence-based science has not yet fully understood the mechanisms – we must change this.
About 25 years ago Ayurveda /Panchakarmacures were unknown in Germany. In the meantime, the medically therapeutic Ayurveda/Panchakarma applications have become an integral and successful part of medical care in Germany.
In this form the cures and treatments are only accessible to a small exclusive circle, as a social state we should change this – which could be changed by a state recognition.
Therefore the citizens’ initiative demands::
- State recognition of Ayurveda (democratisation)
- Special funding of a scientific effectiveness study of Ayurveda (independent, open-ended)
- Special support for Ayurveda clinics and institutions, so that we can motivate Ayurveda specialists from India and Sri Lanka to settle in Germany (know-how transfer)
The Citizens’ Initiative is committed to reducing immeasurable suffering, avoidable deaths and a further economic collapse through preventive measures. If one compares the costs of special funding with the costs of damage, it becomes clear that the opportunities are immense, with calculable risks.
The Robert Koch Institute has opened up the sobering cost calculation for epidemics, among other things.
Standard funding applications are lengthy and ineffective. We need an immediate unbureaucratic political solution that makes Ayurveda an option. The interests of the lobbyists are different, but then to reject it would be a breach of trust.
More information under: https://buergerinitiative-ayurveda.de
Version 1)- 07 May 2020
+++ Current corona crisis – the 2nd wave is definitely coming +++
What is the situation?
Western medicine has not yet been able to stop the pandemic and has reached its limits. The end is not in sight until we have an effective vaccine. The damage is immense. It is in the tens of billions of dollars and it cannot be predicted. We are facing the worst recession in modern times. What’s the next step? In any case, the history of the Spanish flu of 1918 provides us with a warning. No one should underestimate the second wave!
What can we do?
We should be prepared. That means we must be prepared to break new ground. For this reason we demand the state recognition of Ayurveda/Panchakarma; explicitly for therapeutic Panchakarma treatments. It is about strengthening the immune system. Experts know that this is the best prevention. Panchakarma treatments strengthen the immune system in a special way and help us to defuse the infection. It would be a simple and useful building block against the virus. It would also improve our situation with regard to risk groups, as therapeutic panchakarma also helps with diseases of civilization.
German Ayurveda associations have been fighting in vain for years for the state recognition of Ayurveda as an equivalent alternative medical therapy.
How does Panchakarma work?
Ayurveda with Panchakarma at its core is the oldest, most comprehensive and effective health system of mankind. It is over 5,000 years old. A panchakarma treatment detoxifies and purifies the body and strengthens the immune system. It has proven itself as a medical therapy a million times over. Millions upon millions of healing successes cannot be wrong and millions upon millions of people cannot be wrong. A coordinated therapy is a good preparation for the body. It represents the best conceivable protection against further waves of Covid-19 and other infectious diseases. Prevention is better than cure and also cheaper.
Germany must prepare for the return of the corona wave or other infection risks, whether old or new.
We could prevent a lot of suffering and save many billions of Euros at the same time, by:
- State recognition of Ayurveda/Panchakarma as alternative medical therapy.
- With the obligation of cost absorption by the GKV.
- Special funding for necessary investments in Germany and Europe, only a fraction of the EU emergency aid is needed.
- This would open the way for many people to protect themselves preventively against infectious diseases.
The projected specialist clinic for Panchakarma pursues these goals:
- The planned clinic will be a pilot project.
- Initial spark to find multipliers throughout Germany.
- It is absolutely necessary for this project to find the best Ayurveda doctors from the countries of origin India and Sri Lanka. We believe that with an appropriate special governmental support for the necessary investments, good incentives for Ayurveda doctors are given. On the one hand to secure the own economic existence for the future in Germany and on the other hand to make a contribution as a supplement for modern western medical therapies. Experienced Ayurveda doctors stand for the greatest possible alternative healing successes when modern medicine is at a loss. The quality standard is high. Ayurveda physicians from India and Sri Lanka have to complete a 7-year study at special universities before they are allowed to practice.
- There are already many wellness hotels in Germany that offer panchakarma treatments to strengthen the immune system. However, we want to pave the way for medical-therapeutic cures, prescribed by experienced Ayurveda doctors who can work out highly individual special therapies.
These goals can be achieved through cooperation with German Ayurveda associations, through the support of special governmental subsidies and through the governmental recognition of Ayurveda/Pancha caries.
Version 2)- 07 May 2020
Current thoughts on infection with the SARS CoV-2 virus
We are in a crisis. It threatens our health and our economic situation. It is uncertain how things will continue, whether we are on the road to recovery or whether a second wave is threatening us. We must remain cautious to protect our health and social services. For this we need another mainstay.
The acute situation around Covid-19 has tested the limits of our healthcare system. Unfortunately, the limits of our services are systemic, as no society can afford to maintain these crisis-related capacities on a permanent basis.
How can we defuse the situation?
An effective vaccine and an effective drug would be two crucial prerequisites. Both tools are not yet available. When and if we have support from this direction is written in the stars.
At present, prophylaxis is our best alternative. It is the tool of choice.
The acutely most important factors in the fight against Covid-19:
1. social distance, contact restrictions
2. personal hygiene
3. a strong immune system
At point 3. the therapeutic Panchakarma cure begins, for which I would like to take up a lance here. Prevention has the same value as healing and strengthening the immune system is an essential part of this therapy. The pancha karma cure involves maintaining and strengthening a person’s health. It is precisely for this reason that we demand medical recognition. The therapy is useful and effective, it is neither charlatanry nor quackery, but is based on more than 5000 years of practical experience. It is the backbone of Indian health philosophy.
All chances and risks should be critically examined in order to advance the medical approval of Ayurveda/Panchakarma in Germany. Prevention is an honourable principle of medicine. As C. W. Hufeland rightly said: “Prevention is better than cure”. This applies today more than ever!
Step-by-step plan:
1. Medical approval, opens the doors for all patients
2. special economic promotion, as an initial spark and good investment in the future
3. recruitment of the best Ayurveda/Panchakarma doctors, for quality assurance
All the options we have in the fight against acute and future challenges should be examined without reservation. We only need a comparatively small financial contribution for implementation.
Once panchakarmacures are recognized, the range of good, effective and well-founded cures will increase. This increases the quality and promotes professional discourse. This will allow a good, broad range of treatments to develop and thus make an important contribution to prevention, with regard to current or future threats.
The projected pilot project Specialist Clinic for Panchakarma (https://panchakarmaretreat.de) is committed to the medical recognition of Ayurveda/Panchakarma and supports the German and European Association for Ayurveda/Panchakarma in this process.
If you have any questions, I am at your disposal. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail: [email protected]